Summary of Strategy RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic. At the end of a unit of study, to both deepen and share their learning, students compose a piece of writing based on their selections for each of the four categories. Though it would contain information similar to a more formal essay, it is meant to be a creative alternative that allows for choice and inventiveness.
Teaching and Learning Purposes
Best as an end of lesson or unit activity
Gives students a chance to share what they’ve learned in a creative format.
Students have an opportunity to make choices and invest themselves more fully in the work than they might if it were a standard essay.
Adapted from Content Area Writing by Harvey Daniels et. al.
RoleWho am I? What is my perspective? How would I react differently from this viewpoint than I would my own?
AudienceWho needs to read this? Whom am I trying to persuade? What might the audience think about this topic?
FormatIn what way will this writing be put together?
TopicWhat is the subject? What sort of information do I need to include? What is the focus of my format?
1) World War II Veteran 2) Reporter 3) Historian 4) Eyewitness to the event 5) Person in the crowd 6) A young child
1) Student 2) College Professor 3) A group of friends 4) A room of German school children 5) Someone at a WWII museum 6) Elected Official
1) Newspaper Front Page 2) Poem 3) Tourist brochure 4) Museum Exhibit 5) Political Cartoon 6) Chapter from a novel
1) Using President Reagan’s speech as a starting point, describe how the memories of heroism and sacrifice from decades ago can still hold relevance today. 2) Choose your own topic.
Remember
This strategy works with almost any single text, or it can work as a way to synthesize multiple sources of information. The more students feel ownership over their role as author and creator, the more buy-in you will have on the assignment. Some students may struggle to make a choice, but it is important to encourage them to choose a role, audience, and format that best suits their understanding of the subject, their strengths as a learner, and their interests as a person.
Possible Variations
1) Have students choose just the format, but assign them the Role, Audience, and Topic.
2) For students that have difficulty choosing, have them role a die so that the Role, Audience, Format, and Topic are selected randomly.
3) Have students work in teams of two or three and choose the categories together.
Reflection
How might you adapt this pedagogy to use with YOUR content and YOUR students?
Summary of Strategy
RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic. At the end of a unit of study, to both deepen and share their learning, students compose a piece of writing based on their selections for each of the four categories. Though it would contain information similar to a more formal essay, it is meant to be a creative alternative that allows for choice and inventiveness.
Teaching and Learning Purposes
- Best as an end of lesson or unit activity
- Gives students a chance to share what they’ve learned in a creative format.
- Students have an opportunity to make choices and invest themselves more fully in the work than they might if it were a standard essay.
Adapted from Content Area Writing by Harvey Daniels et. al.2) Reporter
3) Historian
4) Eyewitness to the event
5) Person in the crowd
6) A young child
2) College Professor
3) A group of friends
4) A room of German school children
5) Someone at a WWII museum
6) Elected Official
2) Poem
3) Tourist brochure
4) Museum Exhibit
5) Political Cartoon
6) Chapter from a novel
2) Choose your own topic.
Remember
This strategy works with almost any single text, or it can work as a way to synthesize multiple sources of information. The more students feel ownership over their role as author and creator, the more buy-in you will have on the assignment. Some students may struggle to make a choice, but it is important to encourage them to choose a role, audience, and format that best suits their understanding of the subject, their strengths as a learner, and their interests as a person.
Possible Variations
1) Have students choose just the format, but assign them the Role, Audience, and Topic.
2) For students that have difficulty choosing, have them role a die so that the Role, Audience, Format, and Topic are selected randomly.
3) Have students work in teams of two or three and choose the categories together.
Reflection
How might you adapt this pedagogy to use with YOUR content and YOUR students?